A PECULIAR POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1927, Page 1

A PECULIAR POSITION

[bt telegraph —rt.B PRESS association

AUCKLAND. April l:

•• | don't know what I told the detective. J never read it. The detective took it down and 1 signed it. but it is not true. The detective is telling

With this startling accitsati n in the Police Court to-day. a girl not yet fit teen denied the statement made tu Detective M’Whirter last month, in winch she made a serious allegata n against William Jenkins, a marri-d man. aged sixty-five. It was stated in evidence that the girl’s father was dead am! that tor the past eighteen months she had ben working for Mrs Jenkins at GlenfieUi as a general help. In a statement made to the detective in February, site made a similar serious allegation against her own brother, who, it was said, is eighteen years of age.

Dr Craven, of Hirkt'iilmnd. told the Court that he had called at the Jenkins' house on Man h If. the day the uflVnce was alleged I ■ have been cotnmil teed. The girl Va■- alone in the house and told him that Mr and Mrs Jenkns were " down the paddock having tt row about her." To the duetor. she then made the same allegation against. Jenkins that she had made In the detective. Later, site denied this.

Mr J. L. Sullivan, who appeared for Jenkins, objected to the ndmissability of this part of Dr Craven’s evidence, and his objection was noted. A statement made by the accused to Detective M’Wltii'ler was handed in and read out by the Magistrate, Mr Hunt.

"The girl is not to he relied upon.” Mr Sullivan observed. "There is no doubt about that.” Mr Hunt agreed. It was mentioned, too. that since her interview with the detective the girl had been still living in the .Tonkins lioiiso.

"The gill is still living in this man’s house?” asked Mr Hunt in a shocked tone. "I never heard of such a foolish thing. I want her taken away I com those surroundings at once. The evidence I’ve heard quite justifies me in taking her away.”

lie made an order for the Child Welfare Department to take the matter in hand.

Jenkins, who pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.